Swing for the Fences
There are a number of intriguing bigger names that just might be available to the right offer, which look likely to provide a long-term answer to the Orlando Magic’s point guard issues. The sexiest answer is Terry Rozier (please not John Wall and his awful contract).
Rozier turns 25 this season, and is in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s a dynamic player who rebounds well for his size, likes to push the ball and has shown decent skill from three (career 35.5 percent) as well as a solid handle with a career 3-to-1 assist to turnover ratio. But Rozier is also a fellow who doesn’t finish or draw fouls and similarly has struggled to shoot within the arc (career 39.4 percent on 2s, per Basketball Reference).
With Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart already making good scratch in the Celtics backcourt it’s hard to see where Rozier fits financially. Though he’s playing 22.4 minutes a game, that’s three less than last year and with Gordon Hayward back everyone’s feeling the minute squeeze. With him in a contract year, that makes him potentially more available. But everyone knows Danny Ainge extracts a cost in any deal.
Rajon Rondo’s effectiveness and LeBron James preference for older, veteran players makes you wonder if at some point Lonzo Ball might be ticketed out-of-town. However his price tag may outweigh his value given the real questions remaining about Ball’s offensive skills. For the moment, Ball seems to be staying put, though his playmaking and low usage would be a nice fit in Orlando.
It might be odd to find Monte Morris’ name in a Swing-for-the-Fences listing but he’s performed magnificently this year, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Nuggets. Like Mason, Morris is a four-year starter from Iowa State, who wound up the 51st pick in last year’s draft, and on a two-way contract, only playing in three games last year.
It’s a modest pedigree, but Morris looked fantastic in the pre-season and has carried that into the season. He’s shooting 42.5 percent from three, 47.4 from two, has 4.1 assists in 23.8 minutes a game against just 0.6 turnovers, while averaging almost a steal a game.
Denver is impressed with him, so it might take a lot to pry him loose, but he’s still green enough that he hasn’t demonstrably established his value. He looks real good but you can’t be sure, it’s only 20 games. Or maybe this is about as low as you’ll ever be able to buy-in. If I’m the Magic I’d think seriously about Morris. Then again, be careful. Nobody wants to wind up with the next Reggie Jackson.
In the end the Magic must weigh the cost. Augustin hasn’t started more than 36 games (last year) since he was 24 years old, and it would be a shame for them to squander their first good season in years because they didn’t make proper arrangements at point guard. Augustin has repaid their faith so far, but the lack of depth behind him is an issue made all the more urgent by his age and size. There are choices out there, and the Magic must begin to consider how they want to proceed.
